Notebook: Britt's big day

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Kenny Britt wasn't exactly sure what his receiving numbers were by halftime yesterday, but he knew they were big - maybe even big enough to take a run at the school-record 248 receiving yards teammate Tiquan Underwood accumulated in the opener against Buffalo.

So he made certain to let Underwood know about it.

"Oh I definitely said something to him," said Britt, who had six catches for 176 yards and a score at halftime against Syracuse. "It's all fun with us because we're always competing, on and off the field. But we always keep it fun."

Britt never did get a chance to threaten Underwood's mark because he didn't have a second-half reception, but the game was still a career-best - and served another reminder that the Knights have more than one playmaking wideout.

"For whatever reason, Ti was the big-play receiver at the start of the season and I was excited about that because I knew Kenny would do this," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said, "and now with Ti and Timmie Brown stepping up, I think we have three guys that really are big-time guys."

Britt has closed the gap considerably on Underwood in the race to be the team's leading receiver. Underwood has 675 yards, 25 more than Britt.

Yesterday also marked the third straight game that quarterback Mike Teel had thrown for 300 yards and the fourth time this season.

True freshman defensive lineman Jonathan Freeny said he was only joking with classmate Joe Lefeged, a safety, when he told him over the summer that it would be funny if Lefeged got a sack and Freeny an interception - the reverse of what would be expected at their positions.

That's exactly what happened against the Orange. Lefeged had two sacks and Freeny came up with his first career interception.

Freeny, related to former Syracuse All-American defensive end Dwight Freeney (despite the different spelling of their last names), had dropped into pass coverage and was in the right spot to pick off Andrew Robinson's pass when Syracuse's quarterback was drilled by - who else? - Lefeged.

"I owe Joe for that one," Freeny said. "He was the one who put the pressure on the quarterback. I was just doing my job."

Fourth-year junior Kevin Brock played a major role at tight end after seeming to fall off the depth chart entirely at the start of the season. Brock had three catches for 47 yards, including his first career touchdown - a 32-yard catch and run.

"When they called the play I knew there was a chance I could be open," Brock said. "But I didn't want to think about that. I had to focus on my assignment."

Penalties were an issue again yesterday, although Schiano said "I'd rather win with 12 (penalties) than lose with four." Rutgers was guilty of 12 penalties in the victory, bringing the season total to 50 after six games. That's 10 shy of last year's 13-game total.

"Certainly it's something we've got to get addressed and cleaned up," Schiano said. "I thought we had it under control."

Syracuse coach Greg Robinson called Rutgers "a one-hit wonder" and vowed to "get Jersey back" in a pregame interview with ESPN, with the quotes appearing on yesterday's telecast. Robinson was defensive earlier this week when asked about the lack of a New Jersey presence on Syracuse's roster, which has generally had a strong Garden State flavor. The Orange roster lists seven New Jersey players this year.

Syracuse entered the field to the Jersey-styled theme of the "The Sopranos" as well.